New Joiners - Animals #654

This is a nicely composed shot, but the subject is too bright. This is due to the dark background fooling the camera's TTL metering system into overexposure. In the future, consult your histogram and (if required) apply negative exposure compensation to reduce the length of exposure.

Although this photo is interesting and well-timed - with the duck stretching out its leg - it is unusual for nature photos to work when you can't see the subject's eyes. Eye contact is often an important ingredient - it is much harder for the viewer to 'connect' with the subject otherwise.

This is an expertly captured and timed shot. Technically, the photograph is excellent - the rapid shutter speed has frozen every last water droplet. The subject is bitingly sharp and the flat, low-contrast light has enabled the photographer to capture a beautifully detailed result. The composition is successful and its sensitively processed too. Well done.

This is a really striking shot and an interesting perceptive. The overhead viewpoint and dark, contrasting backdrop really places emphasis on the swan's shape and form. It is a beautifully simple composition. The photo has been processed with a slightly cool hue. This might be the result of using the Dehaze slider, but - personally - I quite like the result. It is good to see a less conventional view of a well photographed subject.

An odd number of objects - particularly threes - work well in composition, as it does in this instance. This tightly framed shot of three horses has lots of atmosphere - the backlighting, flying dirt, and the animal's flowing tails and mane add mood, movement and energy.

I do like the depth the dapped light gives this shot. This is a clean, simple frame that has plenty of impact. I like how the lizard has its head slightly tilted and appears to be looking into the negative space in front of it. The shot is correctly exposed and beautifully sharp. A good close-up.

This is a bit of a 'Marmite' shot - the type of photo you will either love or hate. Personally, I like it. It is colourful and painterly, boasting movement and energy. Abstracting nature in this way can produce bold, interesting results that stand out from the crowd.

While I'm not a big fan of horse racing, I can appreciate the skill required to capture this photo. This is a fast, chaotic sport, but the photographer has selected a good viewpoint and anticipated the action well. The shot is good technically and compositionally - this photo wouldn't look out of place on the back pages of the newspapers.

It is growing harder and harder to produce standout, original animal images. But I really like this photo. Its different, unconventional and eye-catching. Its well captured and processed and a fun, interesting shot. The negative space and bold composition is effective.

Aesthetically, this is a very beautiful image. While I've seen many other heron shots like this (presumingly taken at the same commercial hide), it is a very well captured and composed image. I like the low shooting angle and the lighting beautifully highlights the subject's outline. The mirror-like reflection adds symmetry and balance.

I love close-up photography and photographs that highlight the beauty, design, and importance of invertebrates. This is an interesting, impactful shot. The photo is well-captured and the photographer's choice of depth of field is good - with the background grasshopper in focus enough too be recognisable, but out of focus enough not to be too distracting. I might be tempted to lighten-up the frame ever so slightly, though.

I don't really know what to say about this shot. It is a fascinating image and story - I wasn't aware at just how many dogs and handlers served and were sadly killed during the Vietnam war. However, I'm not sure if the person who submitted this image actually took the photo or not? And even if they did, this doesn't feel like the correct platform for this particular image.

The shallow depth of field works effectively in this instance, drawing the viewer's eye directly to the beagle's sleepy eye. When using such a narrow zone of focus, focusing has to be pin-point precise, which it is. I like the square aspect ratio and, overall, I think this is a very sweet portrait.

Although this is a slightly hackneyed idea, the photographer has executed the shot nicely and its a very pleasing and colourful photo. I might have preferred a little more negative space, though - as it is, the robin is placed a little too centrally for my taste.